Richie McCaw is keen to get back to Crusaders training as the seven-time Super Rugby champions bid to overthrow two-time defending champions the Chiefs, saying: "to be honest the last three Super Rugby seasons I either haven't played or been injured so I've played bugger all really."

"I'm due back on January 27," McCaw told allblacks.com. "We'll start a bit of training again and roll into it."

McCaw reaffirmed once again his hopes to captain New Zealand at Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, but he said "we've got Super Rugby first".

"We'll get excited and enjoy that, we've got a pretty good bunch down at the Crusaders."

The All Blacks captain will spend the holidays in New Zealand before getting ready for the 2014 Super Rugby season.

"[I've got] a bit of flying and gliding planned," McCaw told allblacks.com. "Then a family Christmas in Christchurch, before going down central for New Years. Then I'll be into training after that."